I usually have problems warming up at JOs because of the large number of competitors and lack of space on the warm up loops. However, today I was pretty well set and ready to go.
Sixteen members of the Great Lakes District skiers raced in Junior Olympics Sprint Race in Truckee, California on Monday under sunny and warm skies. Brendan Baic, Christina Mishica, Luke Geshsior and Jesse Smith all made it into the Quarter Finals.
Temperatures stayed at or below freezing for Sunday's Boyne Highlands 5 Km / 15 Km Freestyle race. The course was tilled several times to provide an non-icy surface. The course was extremely fast but "edgeable."
UPDATED: The Michigan Cup Team Standings remain very close, with three teams having a chance to win the Michigan Cup this year.
It looks like a really tight race this year between defending champs XC Ski Headquarters, Hanson Hills/XC Ski Shop & Traverse City Junior Team.
Here are more photos from the 2009 Muffin Race at the Cross Country Ski Headquarters.
In what has become standard weather protocol for the event, a storm dumped 12 inches of snow on the mountain one day before the race, leaving event organizers scrambling to prepare a viable course. The grooming resulted in great tracks.
Patterson and Baic look to have wrapped up the junior standings. But could the Strait Striders take the top two senior places this year?
Todd Vigland and Brendan Baic had the fast times at Traverse City Freestyle Sprints this week at Timber Ridge.
Who would have believed it? After 14 inches of fresh snow in less than 24 hours, the tracks for the 4 Km Classic + 4 Km Freestyle Pursuit Muffin Race were rocket fast.
Congratulations to the athletes in the Great Lakes Districts who have qualified for the 2009 Junior Olympics!
Ross Williams, Todd Vigland and Hannah Meecum were the tope finishers in Tuesday's sprints at Hickory Hills.
U.S. National Championships at Kincaid Park - Freestyle Individual Start 10km
Kincaid Park, Anchorage, AK